Method and apparatus for installing a plurality of cables

ABSTRACT

A method of installing cable through material, for example, concrete, wood, masonry, plastic steel, or the like comprising a drill bit with a distal end having a hollow tip with an attachment mechanism for receiving the cable. The drill bit is drilled through the material, and left in place while the cable is attached to the proximal end of the drill bit. There is no need to remove the drill bit from the aperture or material to attach the cable thereto. After attachment to the drill bit, the cable is inserted through the aperture with the drill bit and removed from the drill bit after it passes through the material so it can be attached to a receiver device.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No.13/020,977 filed on Feb. 4, 2011, and U.S. Ser. No. 13/448,379 filed onApr. 16, 2012, both of which are which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to the field of drill bits and handtools for installing wires and cables through outside walls, insidewalls, floors and ceilings of buildings. More specifically, it isdirected to a method of installing wires and cables by using an improveddrill bit for forming an aperture in and through building materials forinsertion of a wire or cable for installation in a building.

Description of the Prior Art

Installing cable in new construction encompasses a variety of methods.Cable can be placed in walls, floors, or ceilings as buildings are beingconstructed. Cable may be placed underground where it is appropriate.However, installing cables in existing buildings presents problems.There may be structures within walls, floors, and ceilings thatinterfere with the passage of the cable. Installing cable in an existingbuilding is often a three-step procedure. First, an aperture is made ina wall or barrier through which the cable must pass, for example, anoutside wall, inside wall, floor or ceiling. Second, the drill bit usedto make the aperture is withdrawn from the aperture in the wall orbarrier. Third, after the aperture is made, the cable must be insertedinto the aperture and pulled or push out of the wall or barrier so itcan be attached to the intended device. The cable may be various wiresand cables including TV wiring, Ethernet cables, electrical wire,telephone wires, etc. The wall or barrier is typically wood,plasterboard, concrete, metal, plasterboard, plastic, etc. The drill bitfor making the aperture is of sufficient length for the dimensions ofthe wall or barrier. In practice, a drill bit of the appropriate lengthis used to make an aperture in the wall. After its removal from the wallor barrier, the cable is guided through the aperture by hand or with theassistance of a guide wire, a firm but flexible device upon which thecable is attached. The wire passes the cable through the aperture andout beyond the opposite side of the wall or barrier. There, the cablecan be pulled through the aperture for installation to a device.Further, conduits may be inserted in the aperture serving as a guide forthe cable to pass therethrough to the opposite side of the wall orbarrier. There may be material, for example, insulation, otherstructures, pipes, wires, etc., that may interfere with the removal ofthe drill bit and insertion of the conduit or wire into the aperture.Regardless, both of the above methods involve multiple steps forinstalling cable.

Improvements can be made in methods for installing cable in existingbuildings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the preferred embodiment, a facile method of installing cable in anexisting building is disclosed comprising forming an aperture in amaterial, for example, wall board, wood, concrete, plaster, etc. by adrill bit attached to a drilling tool. The drill bit has an improvedconfiguration that allows the attachment of a plurality of cables thatare to be inserted through the aperture made by the drilling tool anddrill bit in a manner so that the drill bit does not have to be removedfrom the aperture when wires are connected to the proximal end orproximal region of the drill bit. Preferably, the cable is attached tothe drill bit while the drill bit is still within the aperture. Onceattached to the drill bit, the cable is carried through the aperture bymanual movement of the drill bit through the aperture to the oppositeside and out of the material. This method save steps in view of priorart method of installing cable by the attachment of the cable to thedrill bit while the drill bit is still in place in the aperture made inthe material. The cable is then released from the drill bit and ready tobe installed onto a receiver device. Of course, in another embodiment,the drill bit may be removed from the aperture in the wall forattachment of one or more cables in the proximal end and proximal regionand distal region and reinserted into the wall aperture and pushedthrough the wall to the opposite side.

In operation, the drill bit is rotated into the material by a drillingtool that may be a power tool or a manual tool. The drill bit isinserted into the material so that the tip of the proximal end of thebit is visible adjacent the material so that the drilling tool orattachment mechanism can be released from the drill bit. The substantiallength of the drill bit extends from the proximal end and through theaperture opposite the proximal end of the drill bit. The drill bit maybe any desired length but should have sufficient length for passingthrough the material, whether it is a wall, floor or ceiling of abuilding structure. The material may be wood, concrete, plaster,plastic, metal, plaster board, brick or any material useful in theconstruction of buildings. The distal cutting end of the drill bit maybe configured to cut easily through the foregoing materials.

In one embodiment, the method comprises installing a cable throughmaterials by attaching a proximal end of a substantially cylindricaldrill bit to a drilling tool or connector attached to a drilling tool.The drill bit has a hollow tip at its proximal end near the drillingtool. The hollow tip has an attachment mechanism, preferably threads onthe outside circumference of the cylindrically shaped drill bit forsecuring the proximal end of the drill bit to the end of a cable. Theend of a cable has threads for cooperatively attaching to the hollowtip. The drill bit includes a shaft and distal end for cutting throughmaterials. Before the end of the cable is attached to the hollow tip ofthe distal end of the drill bit, the bit is rotated forming an aperturein the materials. The proximal end of the drill bit is disengaged fromthe drilling tool or attachment mechanism and the end of the cable isattached to the hollow tip of the proximal end of the drill bit. Thedrill bit with the cable attached, is then inserted through the apertureto the side opposite the distal end of the drill bit and through theaperture manually. After the distal end of the drill bit passes throughthe aperture and out of the material, the end of the cable can beremoved from the attachment mechanism one the distal end of the cable byunthreading the threads on the mechanism and outside circumference ofthe hollow tip of the proximal end of the drill bit. The cable can thenbe pulled through the aperture repeatedly, if necessary, to have asufficient length of cable for installing it onto a receiver device.Further, a first aperture is placed in the proximal region of the drillbit, near the proximal end. A first wire, separate from the coaxialcable, is inserted into the first aperture. It is pushed and pulledthrough the wall aperture with the coaxial cable as described above.

Another embodiment is a method where a second aperture on the drill islocated in the distal region of the drill bit, near the distal end. Asecond wire is inserted into the second aperture. After drilling anaperture in a wall, the drill bit is removed, the second wire isattached to the second aperture, and the drill bit is pushed and/pulledthrough the wall aperture to the other side for connections. The drillbit includes connection to the coaxial cable to the proximal end of thedrill bit. As described, a first wire can be inserted in the firstaperture in the proximal region of the drill bit and pulled through thewall aperture with the coaxial cable. Further, a second wire can beattached as described with the coaxial cable. The coaxial cable and aplurality of wires, for example, one or two additional wires can bepushed or pulled through the wall aperture at one time.

Another embodiment is a drill bit for installing cable having a proximalend for engaging a drilling tool and having a hollow tip with anattachment mechanism for securing an end of the cable to the drill bit.The drill bit has a shaft and distal end for cutting through materialsconnected to the shaft. The drill bit has a shaft of suitable length formaking apertures in materials and passing through the materials to anopposed side of the materials opposite the proximal end of the distalend. The attachment mechanism and circumference of the hollow tipinclude threads that connect the end of the cable to the hollow tip ofthe proximal end of the drill bit. The drill bit also includes a firstaperture in a proximal region of the drill for attachment of a firstwire for pushing and/or pulling through the wall aperture. Optionally, asecond aperture and second wire may be connected to it at the distalregion of the drill bit near the distal end so that another wire may bepushed and/or pulled through the wall aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of the drill bit of the present invention in apreferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the drill bit of the present invention showingan aperture for connecting a wire at the distal region of the drill bitnear the distal end.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the drill bit of the present invention in apreferred embodiment showing a hollow tip for receiving a coaxial cable;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the drill bit of the present invention in apreferred embodiment showing the cutting end of the drill bit;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a wall with a side view of drill bit ofthe present invention in a preferred embodiment with the drill bitpartially extending through an aperture in the wall;

FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 5 with a drilling tool removed from the drillbit;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the present invention in a preferred embodimentshowing a coaxial cable being attached to the drill bit;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the drill bit of the present invention in apreferred embodiment showing the cable and drill bit inserted through anaperture in the wall;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the drill bit of the present invention in apreferred embodiment with the cable being detached from the drill bit;and

FIG. 10 is an end view of coaxial cable showing conducting wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment of the invention drill bit 10 comprises a proximal end12, hollow tip 14, proximal region 13 on one end of shaft 16 with distalregion 19, distal end 18 having a cutting surface with grooves 20 andpoint 22 on the opposed end of shaft 16. Drill bit 10 may be of anydesired length, but it should be sufficiently long enough to passthrough material 24 which may wood, metal, plaster, plastic, masonry,wall board, concrete, etc., in the configuration of a wall on theoutside of an existing building, a wall on the inside of a building,floor, ceiling or other configuration. Further, a plurality of aperturesis located on drill bit 10. For example, first aperture 15 in proximalregion 13 is included on drill bit 10. Another example is secondaperture 21 in distal region 19 of drill bit 10.

Hollow tip 14 has aperture 26 on distal end 18 of drill bit 10 forreceiving coaxial cable 28. Cable 28 is preferably coaxial cable. Wireis defined as RF cable, TV cable, Ethernet cable, electrical wire, andtelephone wire. Wire is not shown in the drawings. It is intendedwithout limitation to be connected to the plurality of apertures, forexample, first aperture 32 and second aperture 34. These apertures maybe of any suitable shape and size for receiving wire, for example, oval,round, square or rectangular shape for receiving wires of suitabledimensions intended for use with and for connecting to electronic orelectrical devices. Without being unduly limitative, coaxial cable willbe used to describe an embodiment of the invention, while other types ofwire and cable may be utilized. Aperture 26 is conveniently positionedfor receiving coaxial cable. Attachment mechanism 30 is present on thecircumference of outside wall 32 of drill bit 10. Mechanism 30 may beany suitable configuration for connecting end 34 of cable 28 to proximalend 12 of drill bit 10. More specifically, end 34 connects to hollow tip14 of proximal end 12. Threads 36 on the circumference of outside wall32 of cylindrically shaped drill bit 10 is one embodiment for connectingend 34 of cable 28. End 34 has corresponding threads, not shown, insideconnector assembly 38 on end 34. Outside wall 33 of the coaxial 28connects into hollow tip 14 of proximal end 12 of drill bit 10.Connector assembly 38 with threads on its inside circumference isrotated to connect to threads 36 on the circumference of outside wall 32of drill bit 10. Conducting wire 37 inside coaxial cable 28 passesthrough support 39 and enters aperture 26 in hollow tip 14 of drill bit10 with attached coaxial cable. Drill bit 10 with the attached coaxialcable is then pushed through aperture 44 created by rotating the drillbit in the material to be drilled. Aperture 44 is made sufficientlylarge to allow the passage of cable 28 and connector assembly 34therethrough

In another embodiment, a method of installing cable through material 24is described utilizing drill bit 10. Proximal end 12 of drill bit 10 isattached to drilling tool 40 or connector 42, if required, which is,attached to drilling tool 40. Drilling tool 40 may be a power driven ormanually operated drill. Connector 42 is preferably a chuck for securelyattaching distal end 18 to drilling tool 40. Drill bit 10 is thenrotated by drilling tool 40 forming aperture 44 in material 24. Proximalend 12 is disengaged from connector 42 or drilling tool 40 preferablywithout taking drill bit 10 out of aperture 40 or material 24. Leavingdrill bit 10 in place saves time and provides efficiency to the method.Cable 28 is then attached to hollow tip 14 of the proximal end 12. Morespecifically, end 34 of cable 28 is attached to attachment mechanism 30by suitable connectors, preferably threads 36 on the circumference ofoutside wall 32 of hollow tip 14. End 34 has corresponding threadsinside connector assembly 38 that securely connect with threads 36.Drill bit 10 is then inserted or pushed through aperture 44 manually orwith a hand tool so that it exits material 24 opposite proximal end 12by passing through aperture 44. Cable 28 can then be removed fromattachment mechanism 30 and connected to a receiver device.

Drill bit 10 may include one additional aperture, the first aperture 15or second aperture 21 on opposed ends. Further, additional apertures forreceiving connecting wire may be located at any suitable place on drillbit 10. One or both of the first and second apertures may be located ondrill bit 10. A wire is inserted in first aperture 15 after an aperture44 is drilled in the material. The coaxial cable 28 is attached tohollow tip 14. Both cable 28 and the wire are pushed or pulled throughaperture 44 so they can be connected to a device on the other side ofthe material. Material, as described above may be in the form of anoutside wall, inside wall, ceiling roof or floor. When the word “wall”is used, it means all of the foregoing. A wire can also be inserted insecond aperture 21 with coaxial cable 28 attached to hollow tip 14. Boththe wire and cable 28 are pushed or pulled through aperture 44 to theother side of the wall for connection to devices. Both first and secondapertures, 15 and 21 respectively, can be connected to wires as well ascoaxial cable 28 to hollow tip 14. The wires and cable 28 are thenpushed or pulled through aperture 44 for connection on the other side ofthe wall.

While the invention has been described in preferred embodiments, it willbe readily understood to one skilled in the art that many modifications,additions, and deletions may be made to the invention without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingclaims. For example, it is possible to use other materials and shapes ofthe various components, especially, the drill bit, while still fallingwithin the parameters and equivalents of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of installing coaxial cable and at leastone wire through materials comprising the steps of: attaching a proximalend of a substantially cylindrical drill bit to a connector on adrilling tool, the drill bit having a hollow tip at the proximal end,the hollow tip having an attachment mechanism for receiving a coaxialcable and for securing the proximal end of the drill bit to an end ofthe coaxial cable, the drill bit having a shaft and a distal end forcutting through materials, rotating the drill bit forming an aperture inthe materials, disengaging the proximal end of the drill bit from theconnector on the drilling tool, attaching the end of the coaxial cableto the attachment mechanism on the hollow tip of the proximal end of thedrill bit by inserting conducting wire of the coaxial cable in anaperture in the hollow tip of the drill bit and rotating a connectorassembly with threads on an inside circumference to threads on anoutside circumference of an outside wall of the hollow tip of the drillbit, attaching at least one additional wire to a first aperture locatedin a proximal region of the cylindrical drill bit, inserting the drillbit connected to the cable and the at least one wire through theaperture in the materials, and, removing the cable from the attachmentmechanism after the proximal end and attached cable and the at least onewire pass through the aperture of the materials.
 2. The method of claim1 further comprising pulling the detached end of the cable and the atleast one wire after they exit the aperture in the materials so thatthey are positioned to be installed on a receiver.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the materials are selected from the group consisting ofwood, concrete, brick, masonry, plaster, plastic, metal and insulation.4. The method of claim 3 wherein the materials are present in outsidewalls, inside walls, floors, and ceilings of buildings.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the wire is selected from the group consisting of RFcable, Ethernet cable, electrical wire, and telephone wire.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein a second wire is attached to a second aperturelocated in a distal region of the drill bit.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein first and second wires are attached to apertures in the proximalregion and distal regions of the drill bit.